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Wangji was confused. Everytime he thought he understood his soul-bond, the smaller man changed the game to keep him on his toes. He is currently watching Wuxian play in their room with their daughter. They just finished breakfast and Healer Shi checked on Wuxian. She said that he was better but should take it easy by staying warm indoors and relaxing if possible.
The Slayer was coming today to fight Wen Ning. What confused Wangji was how calm and nonchalant Wuxian was acting. Normally, his soul-bond would be pacing and talking a mile a minute, filled with pent up nerves. The man laughing and playing make-believe with his daughter was as relaxed as Wuxian could ever be. Wangji sipped his tea: 'Maybe he knew something he forgot to share?' The smaller man had the tendency of keeping secrets or forgetting to share information.
Someone knocks on the door and Keeper Daozi enters, followed by a few disciples carrying big loads of clothes. The old man kisses Wuxian's ring hand and puffs his chest with pride: "It's done! I think you will like the new clothes." Wangji watched Wuxian's smile widen as he examined the new robes made for him. Most of them are a combination of dark blue and white with Cloud Recesses signature clouds embroidered on them. Hweiru clapped her hands, clearly loving the new clothes: "I want to wear clothes like Mama!"
Keeper Daozi looks at Wangji and Wuxian and when he receives their approval, he kneels down to her level and says: "Little girl, you like the clothes I made?"
She nods enthusiastically: "Mama looks good in everything."
Wuxian blushes a little. Daozi pats her shoulder: "I will make you a deal: If you want clothes that look like Treasure Wei's then you have to help me make them."
Hweiru jumps in her spot excitedly: "DEAL!"
Wuxian thanks the Keeper and they made a schedule for his daughter to learn new things from the Keeper. A disciple informs them that the Slayer just entered Cloud Recesses and Wuxian stood up and took a deep breath. He turned around and put his hands out for the two most important people in his life: "Come on. Let's go."
Hweiru bounced to take one hand and Wangji smiled while entwining his fingers with the other. They reached the training grounds to find everyone waiting for them, including all the clan leaders who chose to stay to witness the fight.
Zewu Jun made sure that there was a shaded area for them to sit under so Wuxian doesn't have to stay standing the whole time. Wangji took him there. Wuxian sat between Zewu Jun and Wangji with his daughter in his lap. Wangji addressed the crowd: "Brothers and sisters, we are here today to witness the duel between the representative of Shenhua Clan and the Guardian of the Divine Oracle. This fight was suggested by the Oracle to determine the rightful owner of the title of The Guardian. The fight will continue until death or until one of them surrenders. You are all welcome to watch but you must not interfere. If you have any objections, speak now."
When they receive no response from the crowd, Jinhai approaches Wuxian and kneels: "Divine Oracle, I hope the outcome of this duel does not affect the deal we made when we last met?"
Wuxian tightens his hold on his daughter: "I will keep my word if you keep yours."
The Slayer nods and moves to the open area. Wen Ning walked from his post behind Wuxian, kneeled before him, holding his hand and kissing it. Wuxian affectionately pats his head while smiling: "Remember, I love you no matter what happens. Just do your best and make me proud." Wen Ning smiles back and walks away to face the Slayer. Jinhai takes out his spear and Wen Ning summons his chains. The place was eerily silent until the Slayer dealt the first strike.
They exchanged blows for a few minutes, clearly sizing each other up. Wen Ning's attacks were powerful and messy while Jinhai used his spear with accuracy and agility. Watching him fight confirmed the rumors surrounding his skills set. Even Wangji leans closer, surprised by the man's advanced fighting skills. If Wuxian didn't know better, he would think that the man fighting his soul-brother was as strong as his soul-bond.
Hweiru leans back to rest her head on Wuxian's chest. She whispers to him: "Mama, the energy Uncle Wen is using is bad?"
Wuxian rubs her arm: "No. It is dark energy that he harnesses from around him. He's good at channeling it and its supply will never end as long as the world is in balance."
Hweiru: "So he's super strong?"
Wuxian nods: "Yup."
Hweiru: "How is it fair if he's using an endless energy in a duel?"
Wuxian: "Power is not the only factor that guarantees a win. I won many fights without using any kind of energy but my brain."
Hweiru wiggles closer to Wuxian and sighs: "I want to be like you when I grow up."
Wuxian grimaces when Wen Ning throws the Slayer a few paces with his bare hands. It looked painful but the man stood up and continued fighting. Wuxian kisses his daughter's cheek and whispers: "I hope you turn out as strong as Lan Zhan. Don't tell anyone but he's the best guardian ever!"
Hweiru giggles and turns to see the wide smile spreading over Wangji's face. The taller man obviously heard Wuxian's praise.
The fight continues on for almost an hour. Wuxian knows that Wen Ning was holding back because of his gentle nature. Suddenly, things shifted when Jinhai took out a talisman and activated it. Ropes of braided wards appeared and wrapped around Wen Ning, trapping him and his chains in place. Zewu Jun leans close, clearly worried: "Brother Wei, is that what you saw in your vision?"
Wuxian didn't look as worried: "Yup."
Zewu Jun frowns: "Why are you so calm?"
Wuxian smirks, pointing at the two fighting: "Watch."
Wen Ning was not fighting the binds. Wangji scooted closer to the edge of his seat when he felt the energy Wen Ning was pulling from all around him. It felt like he was a black hole sucking everything in and ready to explode at any moment. People around the fighting area felt the same and they all moved back a little, clearly confused over what's happening. Wangji: "Wei Ying, is this safe?"
Wuxian chuckles: "Probably not. We will find out soon enough."
Wen Ning threw his head back when the Slayer decided to deal his final strike and screamed at the top of his lungs, creating a tsunami of pure dark energy and breaking the ropes binding him.
Zewu Jun and Wangji both used their swords to block the energy from harming Wuxian and the little girl he curled up around to protect. All the cultivators present used their weapons to shield themselves too. When the scene settled, Wen Ning was breathing hard, eyes fully black and the Slayer was on the ground a few paces away, coughing blood. Jinhai seethed, slamming his fist on the ground in clear frustration. Wangji stood up and asked: "Slayer, do you concede?"
Jinhai groans: "NEVER!"
He struggled for a few seconds but was able to stand up, leaning heavily on his spear. Wuxian frowned when he felt Wen Ning's energy still building up. He passes his daughter to Zewu Jun and leans closer to examine his soul-brother: 'What is he doing?'
When Jinhai stood in a fighter stance and said something to Wen Ning that Wuxian couldn't hear, he felt his soul-brother's emotional control snap through their bond. Wuxian stood up and yelled: "WEN QIONGLIN!"
Wen Ning did not respond to Wuxian's call. He leaned his head back and unleashed another tidal wave of harmful energy, but this time, it was aimed solely at the Slayer. Wuxian reacts without thinking: "NO! STOP!" He ran out into the fighting area and stood in front of Jinhai, protecting him with his body. Wuxian scrunched his eyes shut, waiting for the pain to slice through his body but nothing happened. He peered one eye open to see Wangji's back as the man used his body to block the energy's wave from harming Wuxian. He whispers in disbelief: "Lan Zhan?" A sliver of panic ignites Wuxian's fears and he rushes around his soul-bond to frantically check for any damage.
Wangji was fine, frozen in place and staring at something behind Wuxian. Wuxian turns to look at what he's looking at and sees the most beautiful thing in the world: A big mammoth.
Wuxian lets out a long sigh and sinks back into the ground when his knees give out. His heart was trying to beat its way out of his chest and it was starting to feel painful. Wangji kneels next to him while Da Ziran stands on her hind legs and trumpets loudly, shaking the ground with her weight and loud voice. Wen Ning appeared from behind her, frantically patting his soul-brother: "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! I ALMOST KILLED YOU!"
Wuxian rubs his painful chest and says: "I don't know.. I just.. I didn't want anyone to die today."
He hears Jinhai, who was frozen in place and still staring wide eyed at the big animal who blocked the sun with its size: "I surrender."
Wangji reaches with shaky hands and cups Wuxian's face: "Wei Ying?"
Wuxian sees the pure panic on his soul-bonds face: "I'm fine. Are you alright?"
Wangji shakes his head: "NO! You almost died!"
Something small slams right into Wuxian and he barely had time to react before he hears his daughter crying in his arms: "MAMA!"
Wuxian tightens his hold on his daughter and rocks her: "I'm fine. We're all ok."
It took longer than Wuxian cares to admit for everyone to stop yelling at him and freaking out. Wangji's hands were still shaking as he desperately clung to Wuxian. Wen Ning was pacing like a caged animal and his daughter was stuck to him like glue. People around him were screaming and yelling but he couldn't care less when his heart was flipping in his chest. The moment of pure terror that washed over him when he thought Wangji was hurt did a number on him. He didn't seem to be able to recover.
Someone pulled his girl away from his hands and he opened his eyes to see who took her. Zewu Jun's worried face filled his vision: "Brother Wei?"
Wuxian whispers, feeling claustrophobic all of a sudden: "Please.. make.. make them stop screaming."
Zewu Jun nods and turns to try to control the mob of people who are running around in panic.
Wangji, who hasn't left his side whispers: "You almost died."
Wuxian looks desperately at him: "You almost died too."
Wangji grabs Wuxian and pulls him into a tight embrace: "Never do this again."
Wuxian rubs his back: "I won't if you won't."
Wangji lets out a sigh and tightens his hold on Wuxian: "My love."
Wuxian: "Hm?"
Wangji: "My soulmate."
Wuxian: "What?"
Wangji: "My everything."
Wuxian chuckles weakly: "You're lucky that most of the people are too scared to come near us because of Da Ziran or this display would have come back later to haunt your reputation."
After a few silent seconds, Wuxian winces: "Lan Zhan, my chest hurts."
Wangji snaps into action and lifts Wuxian in his arms, taking him away from the frantic crowd with the help of the mammoth that cleared the way.
Wuxian whispers into his soul-bond's ear: "I was right, you are the best guardian to ever live."
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